Apparatus for cryptographically transposing characters



R. K MORRIS April 3, 1934.

APPARATUS FOR CRYPTOGRAPHICALLY TRANSPOSING CHARACTERS Filed Sept. 30,1933 4 Sheets-Sheet l I N VEN TOR.

7 2 M 7 ATTORNE.

April 3, 1934. V R. K. MORRIS 1,953,329

I APPARATUS FOR CRYPTOGRAPHICALLY TRANSPOSING CHARACTERS Filed Sept. 30,1933 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

I. I "-1- ATTORNEYS April 1934- R. K. MORRIS 1,953,829

APPARATUS FOR CRYPTOGRAPHICALLY TRANSPdSING CHARACTERS Filed Sept. 50,1933 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 k w [J INVENTOR.

A TTORNE Y.

cm! [W W W o 7 7o iiwlj Z R. K. MORRIS April 3, 1934.

APPARATUS FOR' CRYPTOGRAPHICALLY TRANSPOSING CHARACTERS Filed Sept. 30,1933 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Apr. 3, 1934 PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FORCRYPTOGRAPHICALLY TRAN SPOSING CHARACTERS Roy K. Morris, Charleston, W.Va.

Application September 30, 1933, Serial No. 691,735

12 Claims.

This invention is an apparatus for cryptographically transposing anintelligible sequence of characters forming a message into a differentand unintelligible sequence forming a code message, together with meansfor again transposing the unintelligible sequence of code charactersinto the orderly text of the original message.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device by which thetransposition of characters 9 is continuously variable, as contrastedwith known devices in which transpositions are effected according to acomplicated but orderly and predetermined movement.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for varying theoperation of the device according to the sequence of characters in themessage to be enciphered or deciphered.

Another object is to cause the cycle of operation of the device to bedifferent with respect to each message enciphered or deciphered thereon.

Another object is to provide a device in which the manner of transposingthe characters is continuously variable according to the text of themessage, but so constructed that the operator 5 maintains control of themovement of the mechanism within definite limits for the purpose ofcorrecting mistakes which frequently occur in transmission.

A further object is to provide means for auto- 0 matically andcontinuously varying the cycle of operation without attention on thepart of the operator.

The invention comprises certain new and improved features ofconstruction in apparatus for and methods of coding and de-coding, and Ihave illustrated in the accompanying drawings a preferred modificationof my apparatus wherein: Figure 1 is a transverse sectional view of theapparatus forming the subject-matter of my in vention.

Fig. 2 is a detailed view partly in section showing the arrangement ofthe coding wheels.

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view showing the circuit connections employedin my apparatus.

Fig. 4 is a sectional View of the switch with the contacts in cipheringposition. 1

Fig. 4 is a similar view with the switch contacts shown in thede-ciphering position.

factor.

Fig. 4 is a similar view with the contacts in a.

Fig. 6 is an end elevation of the shown in Fig. 6.

Fig. '7 is a diagrammatic view of the circuit connections employed whenthe apparatus shown in Fig. 6 is employed.

Fig. 8 is a-detailed sectional view showing the manner in which theapparatus shown in Fig. 6 is associated with the code wheels shown inFig. 2.

Fig. 9 is an end elevation of the apparatus shown in Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a view showing a different arrangement of contacts andconnections for the apparatus shown in Fig. 6.

Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic view of the circuit connections for operatingthe additional variable shown in Figs. 6 to 10 inclusive.

Fig. 12 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the manner in which thecontacts of the character transposing wheels may be interconnected.

Referring more particularly to the accompanying drawings, I have shownin Fig. 1 a preferred arrangement of my apparatus which is designed forcoding and de-coding messages. As here shown the apparatus is preferablymounted within a suitable case 1 which is provided with a hinged coveras shown at 1, so that the machine may be enclosed when not in use andthe cover opened to expose the key-board and code wheels when it isdesired to use the same. Briefly, the apparatus includes charactertransmitting instrumentalities such as the key levers 2, 3 and 4,-andcharacter receiving and indicating instrumentalities such as indicatedby the electric light bulbs 5, 6 and T, and the characters associatedtherewith and numbered 5 6 and 7*". Interposed between the transmittinginstrumentalities and the receiving instrumentalities and operativelyconnected therewith I provide a series of character transposing orcoding wheels 60, 60 60 60 60*. It will be understood from the followingdescription that any desired number of these character transposinginstrumentalities may be employed, there being five character wheelsshown in the modification I have illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings. The character transposing wheels 6l)60 are freely rotatablymounted upon a shaft 56 which is fixedly mounted in suitable bearingsprovided in end plates of the apparatus, one of said end plates beingindicated at 56 in Fig. 1.

Interposed between adjacent character transposing wheels I providemultiple circuit controlling members 61, 61 61 61 respectively, asclearly shown in Fig. 2. The multiple circuit apparatus controllingmembers are also mounted upon the shaft 56 but are fixed thereon againstrotation by any suitable means. The character transposing wheels 60-'*60are preferably composed of suitable insulated material and have embeddedin the rim portions thereof a peripheral series of spaced contacts oneach face of the wheel.

The contacts of each peripheral series, and which are indicated in Fig.2 by the reference character 160, are axially aligned, respectively, asclearly shown in Fig. 2, and the contacts of one series are connectedwith the contacts of another series in a promiscuous and non-uniformmanner such, for instance, as shown in the diagrammatic view of Fig. 12.The multiple circuit controllers 61 to 61 are likewise made of insulatedmaterial and are each provided with a peripheral series of spacedcontacts numbered 161. These contacts extend entirely through the bodyof the respective circuit controller, as shown in Fig. 2, and areexposed on opposite faces of said members. Preferably, the contacts arein the form of ball members which are spring-pressed into projectedposition in order to maintain good electrical contact between them andthe adjacent and exposed contact members 160 carried by the charactertransposing wheels 60 to 60 The number of contacts 160 and 161comprising the series of contacts carried by the character transposingwheels 60 and the multiple circuit controllers 61 correspond to thenumber of character transmitting instrumentalities 2, 3 and 4, andin thepresent embodiment number twenty-six to correspond with the twenty-sixletters of the alphabet, although, of course, it is understood that thenumber of character transposing instrumentalities and the number ofcontacts referred to may be correspondingly varied to suit the systemwith which my apparatus is to be employed.

On opposite ends of the bank of alternate character transposing wheels60 to 60 and multiple circuit controllers 61 to 61 as shown in Fig. 2, Iprovide end plates numbered 62 and 62", respectively, which are fixed tothe shaft 56. The end plates 62 and 62 each carry a peripheral series ofspaced contacts numbered 162* and 162 each series having-a number ofcontacts equal to the number of contacts in the respective series of thecharacter transposing wheels and the multiple circuit controllers. Froman inspection of Fig. 2 it will be apparent that the multiple circuitcontrollers 61 to 61, respectively, being interposed between adjacentcharacter transposing wheels 60 to 60, respectively, with the exposedcontacts of said members engaged, a series of complete parallel circuitsmay be traced through this bank of character transposinginstrumentalities from the terminals '72 of the end plate 62 to theterminals 63 of the end plate 62 it being understood that there is anexposed terminal 72 and 63, respectively, for each one of the contacts162 and 162 carried by the end plates. It will also be apparent that byshifting or partially rotating the character transposing wheels on theshaft 56 and relative to the fixed multiple circuit" controller elementsthat, due to the promiscuous manner in which the respective series ofcontacts 160 carried by the character transposing wheels areinterconnected, different binding posts '72 may be electricallyconnected with different binding posts 63 carried by the respective endplates. To this end I provide means for intermittently rotating thecharacter transposing wheels step by step,

said means being shown as annular rim members fixed to the respectivecharacter transposing wheels and provided with ratchet teeth indicatedby the reference character 66. Any suitable means may be employed forconstraining the character transposing wheels to arcuate movement ofdefinite extent, such as conventional spring-pressed rollers engagingthe-ratchet wheels, as is well known in the prior art and as is shown inthe patent to Korn 1,905.593.

For the purpose of advancing the character transposing wheels 60 to 60respectively, I

.provide a series of ratchet operating pawl members 25, there being onepawl member for the ratchet of each character transposing wheel. Asshown in Fig. 1, the pawl levers 25 are pivotally mounted upon a shaft26 extending transversely within the casing 1, and are held in aninoperative position and out of engagement with respect to theirrespective ratchets by means of a spring member 22 engaged between arear wall of the casing and an aperture in the respective pawl members25. It will be understood that there is a restraining spring 22 for eachof the pawl members 25, but in view of the fact that the apparatushereinafter to be described and associated with each of the pawl members25 is identical, reference will be made only to one set of suchapparatus, as is shown in the transverse sectional View in Fig. 1.

Referring further to this figure, it will be seen that the shaft 26 iscarried by a pair of spaced arms 27 which in turn are mounted forrocking movement upon the transverse shaft 29. The construction herereferred to is such that the shaft 29 bearing in the end plates of thecasing supports the rocker arms 27 and the shaft 26 with its pawlmembers 25, and the rocking movement of the arms 27 imparts to the pawlmembers 25 an up and down reciprocation which when said members areengaged with their respective ratchet wheels, cause intermittent orstep-by-step rotation thereof.- For imparting rocking movement to therocker arms 27, said arms carry at their forward end a shaft 28 carryinga plurality of rollers 28". The rollers 28, as shown, normally engagethe underside of the character transmitting instrumentalities 2, 3 and 4under the influence of a spring 32 engaged between the bottom wall ofthe casing and the rear end of said lever 2'7. Thus, under the influenceof the spring 32, the pawl members 25 are retained at the lowerrend oftheir path of reciprocation, while the forward ends of the levers 2'7carrying the rollers 28 are urged upwardly into contact with the levers2, 3 and 4, said levers being pivoted at their rear ends upon a suitableshaft 42. 'It will be understood that the spaced arms 2'7 and the shafts26 and 28 constitute in effect a rocking frame supported by androtatable about the shaft 29, so that when any one of the key levers isdepressed to urge the forward end of the frame downwardly by engagingits respective roller 28 mounted on the shaft 28, the rear end of theframe rises, i

carrying all of the pawl members 25 upwardly.

As hereinbefore stated, the pawl levers 25 are normally restrained outof operative engagement with their respective ratchets 66 by means ofsprings 22. I provide means under the control atively positioned beneatheach of the character transmitting instrumentalities 2, 3 and 4, is aswitch member 33, shown in Fig. 1, and indicated diagrammatically inFig. 3 by the reference characters 33, 33 33, etc. The switch elements33 are. all connected in parallel with a suitable battery 75 which maybe connected to the terminal 133 of Fig. 1, said battery being groundedto the frame of the machine at any suitable point, as clearly indicatedin the diagrammatic showing of Fig. 3. The other side of the switches 3333 33, etc. are connected in parallel through a multiple circuit switchshown at 46 in Fig. 1, and in detail in Figs. 4, 4A and 4B, whichillustrate the several positions to which the switch may be moved. Thesaid switch 46 is provided with a series of axially spaced contactmembers 47, a second axially spaced series of contacts 49 arranged indiametrically opposed relation with respect to the contact 47, and athird set of axially spaced contacts 48, the latter comprising dual andopposed contacts connected through and through, as clearly shown inFigs. 1 and 4, 4A and 4B. There is a contact in each of the series 47and 49 and two contacts in the series 48 for each of the charactertransmitting instrumentalities 2, 3 and 4, and they are arranged insets, each set occupying the same transverse plane in order that thecontacts of each set may be selectively engaged with cooperating fixedcontacts 50-51 and 5253. The contatcts 50-51 are suitably mounted oninsulating material 54 and the contacts 5253 are suitably mounted on aninsulating base 55. The switch 46 is mounted for rotation upon shaft 46which is suitably mounted for rotation in end brackets 46 From thearrangement thus described it will be apparent that the switch 46 may berotated into any of the three positions indicated in Figs. 4, 4A and 4B,to selectively connect the movable contacts 47, 48 and 49 with the fixedcontacts 50 -51 and 5253, respectively, for a purpose to be hereinafterfully explained.

As shown in Fig. 3, the switches 33*, 33 etc. are connected,respectively, with the respective contacts 51 by the wires 70, 71, etc.,while the contacts 52 are connected respectively to a series of relays8, 9, 10, 11, (see Fig. 1) there being one relay for each charactertransmitting element. As shown in Fig. 1, the relays 8, 9, 10, 11, etc.are arranged in superposed rows and carried by a suitable bracket 111carried by the end plate of the machine. Operatively associated with therelays 8, 9, 10 and 11 are armatures numbered '76, 76 '76 in Fig. 3,there being a plurality of relays 8, 9, 10, 11 associated with eacharmature so that energization of any one of the relays as-' sociatedwith any particular armature will cause actuation of said armatureagainst the tension of a restraining spring 77 to close a circuit at 78,78 or 78, as shown in Fig. 3. The number of relays associated with agiven armature may be varied as desired but the number of armatures mustcorrespond exactly to the number of character transposing wheels thatare employed between the end plates 62 and 62 as shown in Fig. 2. Theclosing of any of the contacts 78 78", 78, 78 V and '78 by the armaturesassociated therewith closes the respective circuit which energizessolenoids indicated, respectively, by 34 34 ,34, 34 34 in Fig. 3. Theserelays 34, etc. are shown clearly at 34 in Fig. 1 and are mounted upon abracket member 134. The solenoids 34 are arranged to attract pivotedarmatures, respectively associated with each solenoid and numbered to35, respectively as shown in Fig. 3. As shown in Fig. 1, the armatures35 are pivoted on a trans,- verse shaft 95 and have a weighted lower end38 which carries a contact 39 insulated from said armature. The weightof the portion 38 is suflicient to normally maintain elevated arearwardly extending arm 35, and a suitable abutment 135' against whichthe arm normally rests properly positions the contact 39 and thearmature 35. Operativelyassociated with the contact 39 is a switch jack40, the contact members of which are arranged to engage the arcuatelower surface of the end 38 of the armature and to concurrently engagethe contact 39 when the armature 35 is attracted by the solenoid 34.Normally, however, as shown in Fig. 1, the contacts of the jack engageone upon the contact 39 and one upon the insulating bodyof the portion38 to maintain the circuit controlled by the jack 40 open. Uponenergization of the solenoid 34 the armature 35 associated therewith isdrawn into the dotted line position shown in Fig. 1 and the circuitthrough the switch jack 40 closed. In order to properly position thearmature in the closed position of the switch jack 40, an abutment 3'7is provided for operatively engaging the extended arm 35' of thearmature. As shown in Fig. 3,,one of the contacts of the switch 40 isgrounded whereas the other contact of the switch 40 is connected to aswitch jack 41. The switch 41 as shown in Figs. 0 1 and 3 is normallyclosed by a contact 14 carried by an armature 13 associated with asolenoid 12. The solenoid 12 is mounted above the solenoid 34 on thebracket 134. The solenoid armature 13 is arranged for horizontalreciprocation in bracket 110 members 113, there being a rearwardlyextending arm 15 slidably engaging said bracket members and having arear terminal connection with the respective pawl lever 25 by means of apin 17 carried by the member 15 engaging an elongated slot 18 in thebody of the pawl lever. Thus the spring 22 associated with the pawllever normally retains the armature 13 in a retracted position withrespect to the solenoid 12. The arm 15 of the armature intermediate thepin 1'7 and the armature head 13 carries an upstanding latch tooth 45which is arranged to operatively engage a latch tooth 44 carried by alatch arm 16 positioned above the armature 14 and pivotally mounted upona pin 94. The latch arm 16 is urged down- 1 5 wardly under the force ofa spring 43 and the latch tooth 44 thereof normally overhangs the latchtooth 45 of the arm 15, so that, when the armature 13 is attracted bythe solenoid 12 the latch tooth 45 will ride under the latch tooth 44 tolockingly retain the armature in its attracted position and against thewithdrawing action of the spring 22. It is to be noted that as thearmature 13 is attracted by the solenoid 12 the contact 14 carried bythe armature 13 is shifted out of operative engagement with the contactsof the switch jack 41 to open the circuit through said switch jack. Froman inspection of Fig. 3 it will be seen that due to the engagement ofthe contacts 41a, 41b, etc. of switch jacks with the contact 14 of thearmatures 15 15 15, etc. a circuit is maintained through solenoid 12,and thus, when an armature such as 35 is attracted by its associatedsolenoid 34*, a circuit is made through the switches 40 41 and solenoid12 to the circuit 145 therebeyond. The circuit beyond the solenoid 12 iscontrolled by a switch 31 which, as shown in Fig. 1, is positioned foractuation by a ltig 30 car ried by the rear end of the rocking lever27.The switch 31 is biased to open position but it is main- 50 tainedclosed against said bias in normal position of the part: by the lug 30carried by the lever. Thus, the circuit beyond the solenoids 12 ismaintained open at all times any of the character -transmittinginstrumentalities 2, 3 and 4 are out of their normal position, such aswhen being depressed to transmit a character.

Referring again to Fig. 3, it will be noted that the circuits throughthe relays 8, 9, 10, 11, etc. are completed through the bank ofcharacter transposing instrume'ntalities back to the stationary contacts52 associated with switch 46. The other stationary contact 53 of theswitch is connected to the character receiving and indicatinginstrumentalities, namely, the electric lamps 5, 6 and '7 which have oneterminal of each lamp connected in parallel to ground. It is to beunderstood that while I have shown three sets of contacts numbered 146 146*, 146, of the switch 46, in order to illustrate the continuity ofcircuits from three key members 33, 33 and 33, it will be understoodthat these contacts are preferably grouped in sets in axially spacedrelation on the shaft 46.

The operation of the apparatus as thus far described is as follows:Assuming that it is desired to transpose the character A, the charactertransmitting instrumentality for this character is depressed'to closethe switch 33 (referring to Fig. 3) associated therewith. The circuit isthen from the battery '75 through the line 80, through switch 33, line'70, to stationary contact 51, (and assuming the switch 46 is in theciphering position shown in Fig. 4 through the movable contact 47 tostationary contact 52, thence to the relay associated with the Acharacter, for instance relay 8, thence to a binding post 72 on thestationary end plate 62, thence in a promiscuous manner through theseveral circuit controllers 61 and the code wheels 60 to a particularbinding post 63 on the end plate 62, thence to a stationary contact52 ofthe switch 46 through movable contact 49 to stationary contact 53 bywire 74, thence to a particular character indicating and receivinginstrumentality 6 and thence to ground. It will be understood, ofcourse, that the particular character receiving instrumentality 6 isenergized because of the particular disposition of the several charactertransposing wheels, as shown in Fig. 3. The lamp 6 having beenilluminated, displays the character 6 affixed to the lens thereof, andthis is the coded or transposed character corresponding to thetransmitting character A. Due to the particular arrangement ofinstrumentalities employed for operating the pawl levers 25, no changein the relative position of the character transposing wheels occurs as aresult of the transmission of the first character of a message. Thisinitial transmission, however, sets up a new arrangement of thetransposing wheels for the succeeding character transmission andlikewise each succeeding character transmission sets up a newtransposition for the succeeding character transmission. Thus, theinitial depression of the lever'associated with the character A causedan energization of one of the relays 8, 9, 10, 11, etc. which in turnactuated one of the armatures '76, '76", 76, etc. to close theassociated circuit 78 which energized the solenoid 34 to move thearmature associated therewith into position to close 'switch jack 40,which in turn energized the circuit through the solenoid 12 up to thenormally open switch 31. The circuit through the switch 31, however,remains open until the character transmitting instrumentality justoperated returns to its normal position so that the lug 30 carried bythe rocker arm 27 can close switch 31. Thus, it is not until the initialtransmission has been complete and the character transmittinginstrumentality or key lever has returned to its elevated normalposition, that the switch 31 can close to energize the solenoid 12,which in turn operates the armature associated therewith to pull thepawl lever 25 associated with that particular character transposingwheel, into operative engagement, as shown in the dotted line position25' of Fig. 1. Thus, on the succeeding operation of any key the'rockerarm 27 will be moved to shift the pawl levers upwardly, which movementcauses the one pawl which is operatively associated with its respectiveratchet, to advance the ratchet an amount corresponding to the spacebetween the contact members carried thereby. The operation of therocking lever 27 and its associated pawl lever 25 is such that the pawlsreach the upper limit of movement just before the key lever beingactuated encounters the switch 33 associated therewith, as shown indotted line position on the key lever indicated at 2' in Fig. 1. Thus,the new transposition arrangement of the transposing character wheels iscompleted prior to the energization of the circuit controlled'byswitches 33, and thus a new or different disposition of the charactertransposing wheels is accomplished just prior to the transmission ofeach. succeeding character. It is to be further noted that the upwardmovement of a pawl lever which has been drawn into operative relationwith its character transposing wheel causes restoration of the armatureassociated with the solenoid 34 and the armature 15 associated with thesolenoid 12 which jointly caused movement of the pawl 25 into itsoperative position. This is accomplished by a spring lug 20 pivotallycarried by the pawl lever 25 and restrained against an abutment 23 by aspring 24, Also, the pawl lever 25 intermediate its ends is providedwith a latch releasing tooth 19, it being understood from an inspectionof Fig. 1 that the lug 20 will engage the armature extension 35 toforcibly raise it and thus break the circuit through switch jack 40 andrestore this armature to its normally elevated position, whereas thelatch releasing tooth 19 will engage the free terminal portion of thelatch 16 to raise it into the dotted position shown at 16', in whichposition the latch teeth 44 and 45 are clear to allow the spring 22 toretract the pawl lever 25 and the armature 15 connected thereto. Thus,the pawl lever 25, the armature 15 and the armature 35 associated with aparticular character transposing wheel, are restored to normal positionafter movement of the transposing character wheel one step forward inresponse to an actuating impulse of the pawl lever. To properly positionthe lever 27 and to limit its downward movement a suitable stop member5'7 may be employed.

I also provide means in my apparatus for releasing the pawl lever 25which may be in operative engagement with its respective charactertransposing wheel in order that the machine may be cleared to set thetransposing character wheels in any given position according to a givenkey word at the beginning ,of transmission. To this end I utilize aso-called release mechanism shown in perspective detail in Fig. 5. Therelease mechanism includes a pair of end plates 91 terminating inforwardly extending operating levers, said plates being provided withsuitable journals 93 bywhich the mechanism is mounted for rotation inthe end plates of the machine and in operative relation with respectto'the latch 16 and the armature 35. To this end the opposite end plates91 are connected by rods 36, 37 and 92, and said rods, when themechanism is assembled as shown in Fig. 1, cooperate, respectively, withthe latch 16 and the armature 35 so that, as the mechanism as a whole isrocked on the pivots 93 due to operation of the leverscarried 'by theend plates 91, the rods 36 and 37 are elevated to engage the latch 16and armature 35, respectively, similar to the manner in which the latchreleasing tooth 19 and the spring lug 20 engage these elements in thenormal operation of the machine. Thus, at any time by actuation of thereleasing mechanism the pawl which is in engagement with a particularcharacter transposing wheel, may be released to assume thev normalposition shown in Fig. 1.

In Figs. 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 I have shown a slightly modified form ofmy apparatus in which I include means for further varying thetransposition of characters during transmission. In

Fig. 7 I have shown diagrammatically the manher in which such furthervariation may be worked into the machine as thus far described,

it being noted that this modification comprehends the use of anauxiliary multiple'circuit controller by which the several armatures 7676, 76, 76 etc. are each arranged to control any of the solenoids 34 34,34, 34, etc. and the circuits therebeyond rather than have a givenarmature 76, for instance, always control a given solenoid 34 etc. Tothis end the several circuits with which the armatures 76 76 76, etc.cooperate and which are numbered 78, 78, 78, etc. are connected to anauxiliary multiple circuit controller such as illustrated in Fig. 6 andshown diagrammatically in Fig. 7. Thus, the circuit controller of Fig. 7is provided with ten contacts, five of which numbered 86, correspond tothe five circuit connections 78, 78", 78, 78 and 78 and the other fiveof which, numbered 86, correspond to the circuit connections to thesolenoids 34 34, 34, 34 and 34, it being noted that the contacts arealternated and staggered in a manner such that the five contactsassociated with the circuits 73 78, 78, etc. are arranged in a circularseries, whereas the five contacts connected to the solenoids 34, 34, 34,34 and 34, are arranged in a circular series of lesser diameter butconcentric with respect to the first mentioned circular series, and thecontacts of the respective series are staggered with respect to eachother. By mounting the multiple circuit controller 85 upon the shaft 87,as shown in Figs. 6 and 8, and associating therewith a movable contactcarrying member 85 having two peripheral series of contacts 186, 185',corresponding to contacts 86 and 86', interconnected by wires 90 in themanner shown in Fig. 6A, it is apparent'that by shifting the movablemultiple controller with reference to the stationary multiplecontroller, in a manner similar to that described in connection with.the apparatus shown in Fig. 2, that the several armatures 76, 76, 76, 76and 76 may each be arranged to promiscuously control any of thesolenoids 34 34, 34, 34, 34 in an obvious manner. In order that thismodification of my invention may be conveniently associated with theapparatus shown and previously described,

I may mount the circuit controller 85 upon one end of the shaft 56 ofFig. 2 in such amanner as to define an inner cavity between the endplate 62 and circuit controller 85, said cavity being indicated at 185and, utilized for the purpose of housing the terminal connectionsbetween the several circuits and the respective contact carrying members62 and 85. The two members may be held in assembled relation by anyconvenient means such as by screw bolts 85. Due to the fact that thecharacter transposing wheels in the modification shown carry twenty-sixcharacters and there being only fivecharacter wheels and associatedarmatures 76, 76*, 76, etc. and solenoids 34, 34, 34, etc., it isexpedient to reduce the effective diameter of the multiple controller 85as shown in Fig. 8, so that a ratchet 260 having the. same relativepitch as the ratchets attached .to' the character transposing wheels,may be afiixedto the movable circuit controller 85 associated with thefixed circuit controller 85 in the manner shown in Fig. 9, whereby anactuating pawl 125 may be arranged to intermittently drive theratchet260 and said pawl 125 be actuated by the same rocking lever 27 whichactuates the pawl 25. Thus, the mechanism is simplified and the onerocking lever 27 utilized to drive both sets of pawls. In order toautomatically and intermittently advance the ratchet 260 in timed rela-.tion with the operation of the other pawls 25 and their associatedcharacter transposing wheels 60, 60, 60, etc., I provide relay meanssimilar to those used for operating the pawls 25 into and out ofoperative relation with respect to their several ratchets, and arrangedto energize the circuit controlling said solenoids from some particularcharacter transmitting instrumentality such as, for instance, theinstrumentality controlling the character E and indicated by thereference character in Fig. 11, it being noted that this characteroccurs more frequently than any of the other characters, to the end thateach time the character instrumentality 110 for E is actuated it notonly operates to energize'the character transmission circuit associatedtherewith, but also will energize the solenoids associated withthe pawl125. The particular manner in which this feature is carried out is showndiagrannnatically in Fig. 11, wherein the character transmittinginstrumentality 110 is shown in its normal elevated position. It is alsoto be noted'that all of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1 has been omittedfrom Fig. 11, this figure showing only the modifications in the circuitand apparatus necessary to embody the modification herein referred to inthe apparatus previously described. Thus, the character transmittinginstrumentality 110, when depressed, not only actuates the switch 33associated therewith (not shown in Fig. 11), but also closes a switch33' associated therewith to energize a relay 134. The circuit to therelay 134 is clearly apparent from Fig. 11. Associated with the relay134 is a pivoted armature 135, said armature having associated therewitha switch jack 140 which controls the circuit to a switch jack Y 134,relay 135, solenoid 112, armature 115 and the latching and controlinstrumentalities are identical in form and function with similarelements numbered 34, 35, 12 and 15 in Fig. 1, and

have associated therewith the same type of control and connectinginstrumentalities with reference to the pawl lever 125. Thus, it will beseen-that every time the character transmitting instrumentality 110corresponding to the character E is actuated, the pawl lever 125associated with the movable multiple circuit controller 85 is moved intooperative engagement therewith and subsequently actuated to advance themember 85 a distance equivalent to the space between the contactscarried thereby to thus rearrange the connections between the severalarmatures '76, '76 76, 76 76, etc., and the solenoids 34 34 34, 34 34,etc. of Fig. 3. It will be noted that Figs. 8, 9, 10 and 11 show aslightly different manner of interconnecting the contacts of the movablecircuit controller 85 from that shown in Fig. 6A, the arrangement shownin Figs. 8, 9, 10 and 11 being better adapted for the automatic type ofoperation shown in this modification than is the type of connectionshown in Fig. 6A.

It is to be further understood that when the apparatus of my inventionis arranged to include the modification shown in Figs. 8, 9, 10 and 11,that the release mechanism shown in Fig. 5 is extended an amountsufficient to operatively c'ooperate with the armature 135 and the latchmechanism associated with the armature 115 in a manner such that thepawl lever 125 may be manually released from operative engagement withthe ratchet 260 when desired, and simultaneously with the release of apawl 25 from its associated latch wheel.

In the operation of the machine the transposed character following eachtransmission is visibly displayed to the operator by means ofillumination of a particular character by one of the lights 5, 6 or 'I,and the character so displayed is placed in the coded message tocorrespond with the character which has been transmitted. Obviously,before transmitting any message the levers 25 should be cleared byoperation of the release mechanism 91 and the character transposingwheels set according to a predetermined or prearranged key word. Thus,if the machine includes only the five character transposing wheels shownin Fig. 2 a five letter word would be employed, whereas, if theadditional transposition varying mechanism shown in Figs. 8, 9, 10 and11 is employed, additional character will have to be included in the keyword to properly correlate the movable circuit controlling member 85*-with the character transposing wheels 60, 60", 60, 60 and 60 With thisin mind the movable circuit controlling member 85 is preferably providedwith suitable indicia on its periphery whereby such correlation may beefiected. After having properly set the character transposing wheels andthe movable multiple circuit controller 85 in accordance with apredetermined key word and the message has been transmitted into code,character by character, the coded message may be decoded by rotating theswitch member 46 to bring the movable contact members 47 and 49 into theposition shown in Fig. 4 or as diagrammatically shown in Fig. 3. Themovement of the switch from the position shown in Fig. 4-- to 4 has theeffect of electrically interchanging the position of the keyboard andcode character indicating lamps, so that with the switch in the decodingposition the machine is cleared and the character transposinginstrumentalities together with the movable circuit controller 85 set inaccordance with the prearranged key word and the coded messagetransmitted character by character in the same manner in which theoriginal message was transmitted. This transmission of the coded messageeffects transposition thereof-into the original characters of theintelliglble message in the manner that the original message wastransposed into the coded message.

From the foregoing description it is apparent that I have devised anapparatus for transposing a sequence of intelligible characters into asequence of unintelligible characters and vice versa, in a manner suchthat the coded message is entirely devoid of any recurrent cycle oftransposition so that it is absolutely impossible for any one unfamiliarwith the key word and machine to de-code a message transmitted on myapparatus. This condition obtains due to the fact that the transpositionwheels are moved not in accordance with any predetermined and definitelycontrolled mechanical cycle, but on the other hand, are promiscuouslyrotated purely in response to the sequence of characters beingtransmitted, and are thus entirely independent of the operator and/orthe machine. In other words, the movement of the character transposingmechanism is continuously variable throughout the operation of themachine, and regardless of the length of the message being transmittedthere are no recurring cycles in the order of transposition.

It is worthy to note here that one important feature of my inventionallows the correction of an erroneously transmitted character if theoperator discovers the error before a succeeding character has beentransmitted.' It will be understood from the description and outline ofoperation of my apparatus that the operation of my charactertransmitting instrumentality will cause movement of a. particularcharacter transposing wheel under the influence of its associated pawlwhich has been brought into engagement with said wheel due to theprevious actuation of one of the transmitting instrumentalities. Thismovement of the wheel transpires during the down stroke of the key andterminates immediately before the engagement of said key with itsassociated switch 33. Upon the completion of a power stroke by any ofthe pawls they are immediately withdrawn from operative engagement withtheir respective ratchet wheels by the springs 22 and the next pawl isnot drawn into association with its associated ratchet until theactuated transmitting instrumentality or key reaches its normal elevatedposition, in which position the lug 30 closes the switch 31 to energizethe solenoid 12 as hereinbefore described. Thus, it will be seen thatthe actuation of each of the character transmitting instrumentalities orkeys functions to set up the relative position of the charactertransposing wheels for the next character to be transmitted. Thus, if agiven character is transmitted correctly it simultaneously preconditionsthe pawls and ratchet to give a proper arrangement for transposing thenext succeeding character. If, however, the next character iserroneously transmitted by actuation of an incorrect charactertransmitting instrumentality or key, and the operator discovers theerror before a succeeding character is struck, actuation of the releasemechanism 91 will withdraw the pawl which has been brought intooperative enthe incorrect key, and the character transposinginstrumentalities will then be in the same position in which they werefgllowing the transmission of the last corr aracter. 'Qhls conditionpermits the operator to clear the pawls by operation of the releasemechanism in the manner heretofore described and then transmit thecorrect character without affecting the proper sequence of thecharacters in the final coded message, it being of course understoodthat the transposed character corresponding to the erroneouslytransmittedcharacter is not included in the coded message.

If an error has been made in transcribing a properly coded character,either by the original transmitting operator or any subsequent operator,this error will result in an unintelligible sequence of charactersfollowing the error when the coded message is de-coded. If such acondition exists and the operator de-coding the message encounters anunintelligible sequence of characters following 'an intelligible.sequence thereof, the error can be corrected by beginning the de-codingoperation and carrying it down to the point where the last intelligiblecharacter appears in the de-codedmessage. At this point, after notingthe arrangement of the several character transposing wheels, theoperator must try actuating different character transmitting keys untilan intelligible character or sequence thereof results from actuation ofa given key, it being" understood that if any given key does nottransmit an intelligible character, the release lever is operated andthe character transposing instrumentality restored to the last positionwhich resulted in an intelligible character. This manner of trials mustcontinue until the operator strikes the proper character key which willindicate a character which will produce an intelligible sequence ofcharacters in the de-coded message, it being understood in thisconnection that in a machine such as is herein described where severalcharacter transmitting keys are associated with a given armature 76,that it is only necessary that the operator strike a character key whichis included in the group of character keys associated with the group ofrelays controlling the armature which is aifected by the particularcharacter key in question. Thus, in the present construction it wouldonly be necessary for the operator to try at most four differentpossibilities before the correct group of characters would be locatedand the intelligible sequence -of characters would automatically follow.

' It is further to be noted that I have provided on the switch 46 thethrough contacts 48, as clearly shown in Fig. 4, 4A and 4B. Thesecontacts, when the switch is positioned in the manner shown in Fig. 43,function to shunt or by-pass the character transposing wheels andassociated multiple controllers and connect directly the severalcharacter receiving and indicating instrumentalities 5, 6 and 7 withtheir respective character transmitting instrumentalities 2, 3 and 4,etc. It is, of course, understood that there is a character receivinginstrumentality to correspond with each character transmittinginstrumentality.

In the foregoing specification and the appended claims I have used theexpression factor of transposition and/or the transposition factor. Bythis term I mean the relative displacement in a given series ofcharacters between the message character and thecode charactercorresponding thereto. Thus, in a system employing the English alphabetin a conventional series arranged in normal sequence from A to Z, if-thecharacter A is transposed into code as the character K, thetransposition factor is 10 since the letter Kis ten letters removed fromthe letter A in the alphabetical series of characters assumed. Likewise,

if the character 13 is transposed to the code charv acter S thetransposition factor is 18. It will be understood, therefore, that wherethese terms are encountered in the specification or claims that theforegoing interpretation i'sto be given.

In view of the foregoing it is apparent that my invention ischaracterized by the feature that in a message of any length thetransmission factor is changed or altered every time a charactertransmitting instrumentality is actuated, and that the said factor isnot changed in accordance with any definite or predetermined plan orpattern but in accordance .with a progressively varying sequence and/orfrequency of actuation of the character transmitting instrumentalities.Thus the coded message, regardless of its length, is totally devoid ofany recurring pattern from which the key to the codemay be ascertainedby unauthorized parties.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is:

1. In an apparatus of the character described, character transmittinginstrumentalities, character receivinginstrumentalities, means operablyconnecting the transmitting instrumentalities with the receivinginstrumentalities whereby a character receiving instrumentalityindicativelyresponds to each actuation of a character transmittinginstrumentality, and means controlled in accordance with the sequence ofactuation of the several character transmitting instrumentalities formodifying the connecting means between the character transmittinginstrumentality and the character receiving instrumentality whereby tovary the particular character receiving instrumentality which respondsto actuation of any particular character transmitting instrumentality.

2. In an apparatus of the character described, character transmittinginstrumentalities, character 'receiving instrumentalities, a pluralityof electric circuits, each of said circuits operatively connecting acharacter transmitting instrumentality with a character receivinginstrumentality whereby a character receiving instrumentalityindicatively responds to each actuation of a character transmittinginstrumentality, and means controlled in accordance with the sequence ofactuation of the character transmitting instrumentalities for modifyingthe connection between said circuits and said transmitting and receivinginstrumentalities, whereby to cause a different character receivinginstrumentality to respond to actuations of any given charactertransmitting instrumentality.

3. In an apparatus of the character described, character transmittinginstrumentalities, character receiving instrumentalities, a plurality ofelectric circuits, each of said circuits operatively connecting a.character transmitting instrumentality with a character receivinginstrumentality whereby a character receiving instrumentality intweensaid circuits and said transmitting andreceivinginstrumentalities,whereby to cause a difierent character receiving instrumentality torespond to repeated actuation of a given character transmittinginstrumentality.

4. In an apparatus of the character described, character transmittinginstrumentalities, character receiving instrumentalities, a plurality ofelectric circuits, each of said circuits operatively connecting acharacter transmitting instrumentality with a character receivinginstrumentality wherebya character receiving instrumentalityindicatively responds to each actuation of a character transmittinginstrumentality, and means controlled in accordance with the sequence ofactuation of the character transmitting instrumentalities and thefrequency of actuation of a given character transmitting instrumentalityfor modifying the connection between said circuits and said transmittingand receiving instrumentalities, whereby to cause a difierent characterreceiving instrumentality to respond to actuation of any given charactertransmitting instrumentality.

5. In an apparatus of the character described, character transmittinginstrumentalities, character receiving instrumentalities, electriccircuits operatively connecting the character transmittinginstrumentalities and the character receiv-- ing instrumentalitieswhereby actuation of a character transmitting instrumentality effects aresponsive indication by a character receiving instrumentality, amultiple circuit controller including plural conductive pathstherethrough, each of said paths being included in one of said circuits,and means to actuate said circuit controller to vary the circuitconnections between the character transmitting instrumentalities and thecharacter receiving instrumentalities to cause different characterreceiving instrumentalities to respond to successive actuations of agiven character transmitting instrumentality, said actuating meansoperating in response to actuation of any of the character transmittinginstrumentalities, the character receiving instrumentality whichresponds to actuation of a particular character transmittinginstrumentality being controlled in accordance with the sequence ofactuation of the character transmitting instrumentalities.

6. In an apparatus of the character described, character transmittinginstrumentalities, charac- ,ter receiving instrumentalities, electriccircuits operatively connecting the character transmittinginstrumentalities and the character receiving instrumentalities wherebyactuation of a character transmitting instrumentality efiects aresponsive indication by a character receiving instrumentality, amultiple circuit controller including plural conductive pathstherethrough, each of said paths being included in one of said circuits,and means to actuate said circuit controller to vary the circuitconnection between the character transmitting instrumentalities and thecharacter receiving instrumentalities to cause difierent characterreceiving instrumentalities to respond to successive actuations of anygiven character transmitting instrumentality, said actuating meansoperating in response to actuation of any of the character transmittinginstrumentalities, the character receiving instrumentalities whichrespond to actuation of any particular character transmittinginstrumentality being controlled in accordance with the sequence ofactuation of the character transmitting instrumentalities, and anadditional circuit controller in circuit with said connecting circuitsand operable to further modify the same to variably connect thecharacter transmitting instrumentalities and the character receivinginstrumentalities, said additional circuit controller being operable inresponse to the actuation of a given character transmittinginstrumentality, whereby the transposition of characters is continuouslyvaried in accordance with the sequence of characters transmitted and inaccordance with the frequency with which a given character istransmitted.

'7. In an apparatus of the character described, character transmittinginstrumentalities, character transposing means and character receivinginstrumentalities, said character transposing means including aplurality of code elements, plural means for relatively shifting each ofsaid elements one at a time to effect variation in the transposition ofcharacters, all of said shifting means being initially disposedinoperatively with respect to their respective code elements, means formoving the shifting means one at a time into operative relation withtheir respective code elements, means to actuate the shifting means fromoperative into inoperative position in response to the actuation of anyone of said character transmitting instrumentalities, and meanscontrolling the selection of the shifting means to be moved frominoperative to operative position in accordance with the sequence ofcharacters being transmitted.

8. In an apparatus of the character described, character transmittinginstrumentalities, character transposing means and character receivinginstrumentalities, said character transposing means including aplurality of movable code elements, and separate normally inoperativemeans for moving each of said elements to vary the transposition ofcharacters in accordance with the sequence of characters beingtransmitted, comprising a plurality of relays, means for selectivelyenergizing the same by actuation of said character transmittinginstrumentalities, said relays being arranged in a plurality of groupscorresponding in number to the number of code elements, a solenoid,operatively associated with each group of relays and with a particularcode element, circuit connections for energizing said solenoids inresponse to energization of any of the relays of the group with which itis associated, means operative in response to energization of each ofsaid solenoids for rendering operative the moving means for itsassociated code element, and means for actuating the operativelypositioned moving means in response to operation of any of the charactertransmitting instrumentalities.

9. In an apparatus of the character described, character transmittinginstrumentalities, character transposing means and character receivinginstrumentalities, said character transposing means including aplurality of movable code elements, shifting means for each of the codeelements to vary the transposition between the character transmittinginstrumentalities and the character receiving instrumentalities, andmeans for actuating one of said shifting means through each actuation ofsaid character transmitting instrumentalities, the charactertransmitting instrumentalities including a plurality of normallyelevated depressible keys, the initial depression of any of whicheffects relative shifting of the code elements, the final depression ofwhich effects transposition of the character corresponding to the keydepressed, means to disconnect the shifting means from the code elementpreviously instrumentalities,

shifted, and means to connect a shifting means with a diirerent codeelement by the return stroke of the depressed key. 1

10. In an apparatus of the character described, character transmittinginstrumentalities, character transposing means and character receivingsaid character transposing means including a plurality of movable codeele-'- ments, shifting means for each of the code elements to vary thetransposition between the character transmitting instrumentalities andthe character receiving instmmentalities, and means for actuating one ofsaid shitting means through each actuation of said charactertransmitting instrumentalities, the character transmittinginstrumentalities including a plurality of normally elevated depressiblekeys, the initial depression 'of any of which effects relative shiftingof the code elements, the final depression of which effectstransposition of the character corresponding to the key depressed, meansto disconnect the shifting means from the code elements previouslyshifted and connect a shifting means with a difierent code element bythe return stroke of the depressed key, and means other than said keysoperable to manually disconnect said newly positioned shifting meansfrom its code element.

11. In a device of the character described, character transmittinginstrumentalities, character transposing means and character receivinginstrumentalities, means whereby actuation of a character transmittinginstrumentality transmits a character to said transposing means andsubsequently conditions said character transposing means for varying thetransposition of a succeeding character, and means under the control orthe operator for rendering said character transposing conditioning meansinefiective for the purpose of correcting an error in transmission.

12. In an apparatus of the character described, character-transmittinginstrumentalities, character-receiving instrumentalities, means operablyconnecting the transmitting-instrumentalities with thereceiving-instrumentalities whereby a character receivinginstrumentality indicatively responds to each actuation of acharacter-transmitting instrumentality, and means controlled inaccordance with the frequency of actuation of a particularcharacter-transmitting instrumentality for modifying the connectingmeans between the character-transmitting instrumentalities and thecharacter-receiving instrumentality whereby to vary the particularcharacter receiving instrumentality which responds to actuation of anyparticular character transmitting instrumentality.

ROY K. MORRIS.

